One day, Shah Abbas went to the bazaar to visit Mullah Abdollah at Mullah Abdollah School. Amazingly, he found the school empty of students.
When he asked for the reason, Mullah Abdollah said he would give his answer another time.
At another time, when the Shah had gone to visit Mullah Abdollah, he told the Mullah to ask him for something.
Mullah Abdollah said he did not need anything.
When the Shah insisted, he said: “Now that you insist, I have one need; and that is for you to walk a few steps beside me whilst I ride a horse at Shah Square (Naqsh-e Jahan Square) in the presence of people.”
When the Shah asked for its reason, he said he would give him the reason at another time.
Out of the respect the Shah had for scholars and theologians, he agreed and did so in the presence of people.
After a while, he went back to the Mullah’s madrasa, and this time found the school filled with students.
He asked for the reason, and the Mullah answered: “at first, people did not understand the value of knowledge and scholars, but now it is clear to them that the importance of seeking knowledge is such that a shah like you walks behind an ordinary man like me. This attracted people to knowledge.”
